Measure eye length with ultrasound
You use an ultrasound device to find the eye's length and gather data for the ophthalmologist.
Career profile
Ophthalmic Technologist
Ophthalmic technologists measure and photograph eyes, assist with procedures and coach other eye-care staff.
Between a patient and a screen of eye images, you explain the test, collect usable results and leave the ophthalmologist a clear record.
A day in the life
Hold a patient steady for scans
Guide the patient's gaze, steady them against the scanner's supports and change settings to rescan if they move.
Check vision and eye pressure
Test how sharply a patient sees, measure eye pressure with a tonometer and chart the results.
Coach a coworker's testing
In roles that include teaching, you watch a coworker run tests and say what to fix.
Quick facts
Education or technician experience
United States · Requirements checked October 2026
Not displayed
A separate national pay estimate is not available for this specialty.
Not displayed
A separate national growth rate and annual openings estimate are not available for this specialty.
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Education or technician experienceAdvanced certification has routes through accredited technologist training or experience as a certified technician.
Pay
Not displayedA separate national pay estimate is not available for this specialty.
Outlook
Not displayedA separate national growth rate and annual openings estimate are not available for this specialty.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You like precise measurements and checking small details.
- You can explain an unfamiliar test without rushing the person.
- You enjoy showing someone how to improve a practical skill.
Things to weigh
- You work very close to patients, with exposure to infections.
- Busy clinics require accurate tests and records while several patients and deadlines compete for attention.
Where AI may help
Some light-based eye scanners, called optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems, track eye movement and align repeat scans. These tools help reduce image distortion.
What people still lead
You explain the scan, position the patient and check whether the image is usable. An automatic capture still needs a quality check.
What we can’t predict yet
How much alignment and repeat scanning will become automatic remains uncertain, especially when a patient struggles to hold position or look steadily at a target.
Pay in context
Earnings
A published university pay scale gives you a concrete comparison point when considering offers.
University pay scale
The University of Florida lists $53,000–$86,000 a year for its ophthalmic technologist grade—about $25.48–$41.35 an hour at 2,080 hours a year. This is an employer grade range, not a starting-pay promise or national median.
Getting started
Complete accredited technologist education
- What the route involves
- Complete an International Council of Accreditation–accredited technologist program and at least 60 semester or 90 quarter college credits.
- What it can lead to
- This route provides COMT examination eligibility without additional employment hours.
- What to check
- Applying more than 12 months after graduation adds continuing-education requirements. Programs with fewer college credits have a separate experience requirement.
Build on technician certification
- What the route involves
- Maintain Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) certification, complete 6,000 supervised COT work hours within 60 months, and earn 12 approved continuing-education credits within 12 months before applying.
- What it can lead to
- You can apply for the COMT examinations through the experienced-technician route.
Two routes lead toward Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) certification. Meeting eligibility requirements comes before earning the credential.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization. This path also has a credential or licensing boundary; see the requirements and limits.
Get established
Learn the clinic’s testing routines and chart system so your measurements and records are consistent.
Handle harder scans
Develop your ability to spot poor image quality and adjust patient positioning or instrument alignment.
Teach or specialize
Take on staff instruction or develop a specialty in ophthalmic ultrasound.
Where you can work
Diagnostic eye clinics
Move among eye scanners, cameras and visual-field instruments. Much of your attention goes to explaining tests and recording results across different devices.
- Indoors
- Safety-sensitive
Practices with minor procedures
Some roles combine testing with procedure support. You prepare instruments and assist the ophthalmologist, with careful attention to keeping the procedure area free from contamination.
- Indoors
- Safety-sensitive
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Look at a public demonstration of an OCT eye scanner. Sketch the steps from seating the patient to checking the image, then write a plain-language explanation of where to look. Notice whether you enjoy both the equipment details and helping someone understand the test.
Stay safe: Keep this a paper exercise; do not test someone’s eyes or interpret a scan as a diagnosis.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. Ophthalmic Medical Technologists — 29-2099.05. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational projections and worker characteristics. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- University of Florida. Ophthalmic Technologist — TEAMS Titles. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology. Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology. Certification & Education — Scope of Allied Ophthalmic Personnel. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology. Certifications. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- University of Miami. Ophthalmic Diagnostic Technologist — Bascom Palmer Eye Institute UHealth at SoLé Mia. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- ZEISS Medical Technology. CIRRUS 500/5000. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- ZEISS Medical Technology. OCT-A Simplified: A step-by-step guide to image acquisition. Accessed 2026-10-03.